Putting The Brakes On Unsafe Trucking Companies

U.S. Department of Transportation Declares Michigan Long-Haul Truck Driver to be an Imminent Hazard to Public Safety

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared Michigan-licensed truck driver Tracy A. Ferrell to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. Ferrell was served the federal order Oct. 16, 2013.

“Safety should be the top priority of every driver of every vehicle out on our nation’s highways and roads,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We will continue to work with our state law enforcement partners to protect the motoring public through vigorous enforcement of traffic laws and motor vehicle regulations that prevent needless crashes and save lives.”

On Sept. 11, 2013, Ferrell, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, was operating a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 23 in Pickaway County, Ohio, when he crashed into the rear of a passenger vehicle that had stopped for traffic. The driver of the passenger vehicle was killed.

A subsequent investigation by Michigan State Police and FMCSA determined that Ferrell had repeatedly and excessively falsified his driver on-duty records throughout the five-week period prior to the crash thereby significantly exceeding federal on-duty time limitations designed to prevent fatigued driving by commercial truck and bus operators.

“It is unacceptable for a truck or bus company, or any of its drivers, to disregard the law and put travelers at risk,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “We will continue our aggressive efforts to prevent unsafe commercial drivers from getting behind the wheel and endangering the public.”

FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order for Ferrell is based on his violation of federal safety regulations.

Since the beginning of 2013, FMCSA has declared ten commercial driver’s license holders as imminent hazards, blocking them from operating in interstate commerce.